We recently connected with Aaron Cruz and have shared our conversation below.

Aaron , appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Originally, my career aspiration was to make a living as a guitarist and recording engineer. I graduated from the Musicians Institute and the Los Angeles Recording Workshop roughly 20 years ago. Although it was a journey filled with highs and lows, the most significant challenge came during the COVID-19 pandemic when my live performance gigs dried up.

Before the pandemic hit, I juggled a day job in catering while gigging as much as possible at night. However, once everything shut down, I found myself relying on unemployment stimulus payments, with little to do besides playing the guitar and recording demos on my computer.

During this time, I stumbled upon a new interest – Photoshopping pictures of my friends and me into humorous and sometimes quirky scenarios, which I’d send as jokes. Although they brought laughter, these endeavors introduced me to the world of digital media.

One day, my then-girlfriend (now fiancee) informed me about a Photoshop training class at Los Angeles Trade Tech, which I could potentially attend for free due to the pandemic. I eagerly enrolled and not only delved into Photoshop but also explored the rest of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite and rekindled my familiarity with Avid Pro Tools.

I immersed myself in learning as much as possible, and halfway through the program, I stumbled upon a content creation retainer opportunity. The content creation market was thriving at the time, prompting me to leave my program and pursue the job.

As a fan of Nine Inch Nails, I became intrigued by Trent Reznor’s transition from music to film scoring. This, along with the works of Danny Elfman and Angelo Badalamenti, inspired me to venture into film scoring. I didn’t formally study composition but rather relied on YouTube tutorials, content by experts like Guy Michelmore, and the “Fake it till you make it” approach. Eventually, this led to a few small paid gigs, opening doors to more opportunities.

If it weren’t for the pandemic and my partner’s suggestion to dive deep into Photoshop, I believe I’d still be in food service. It’s been quite the journey!

Aaron , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I run Aaron Cruz Productions LLC, offering a wide range of services. I’ve often encountered the suggestion to specialize in a single discipline to avoid being labeled a “jack of all trades, master of none.” I respectfully challenge that notion. A few years ago, during a conversation with Composer/Sound Designer Alan Howarth (known for his work on Halloween 2 and beyond, Poltergeist, Star Trek, Back to the Future 2 & 3, They Live, and more), I sought advice on thriving in the industry. Alan recommended having additional skills to complement my scoring abilities.

For instance, a composer proficient in sound design or skilled in After Effects becomes more appealing to clients than one without these supplementary talents. In my experience, the entertainment industry often demands wearing multiple hats, and you might be asked to perform tasks beyond your original role. While we can debate the merits of this practice endlessly, I choose to keep the advice close to heart

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

While I am in favor of Trade schools as opposed to university or degree programs, I’ve found tremendous value in the Masterclass series and YouTube for learning.Given enough time and thorough research to verify the credibility of content creators, one can acquire a wealth of knowledge on YouTube without accumulating significant student loan debt.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Transitioning from being an employee to working for myself was undeniably daunting. I grappled with this decision for some time. It felt like standing on the edge of a precipice, wondering if I would plummet to the ground and face hardship or soar to new heights like a baby bird leaving the nest. Fortunately, I chose to take the leap.

Being an entrepreneur comes with its challenges, and there have been moments of genuine concern about covering bills. However, having multiple skill sets has allowed me to diversify my income streams. While each alone may not lead to wealth, their combined effect has enabled me to stay financially afloat. It’s a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the entrepreneurial journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aaroncruzproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaroncruzguitarcomposer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sideshow.cruz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroncruzproductions/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DX76ppClPKpzFoi4JJJ4Q
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090049569741 https://www.instagram.com/aaroncruzproductionsllc/

Image Credits
@rawlofthedeadphotography @adamkennedy @olgashillerar